§ Some hours later .
When McGee went back to Squadroom , Gibbs has already gone home , while Tony and Ziva were working at their desks .
"I think we need to talk ," he said , standing between their desks . Tony and Ziva just looked at him , waiting . "I know that that's been a shock for you ... especially for you , Tony , but this is a Director's call , so I think we've got live with it . I'll try to be a good boss , but I'll need your help and your collaboration ... may I count on you ?" he asked .
"Sure , McGee ," smiled Ziva , a little uncomfortable .
"Yes ," said Tony , seriously , though his guts told him that it wouldn't be so easy for all of them .
"Good ," he smiled . Then he went to his desk , but Tony stopped him ,"No , that's no longer your desk , McGee . I think , you've got to take Gibbs' desk ," he grinned .
"Oh ... yeah ... sure ," swallowed Tim .

When , finally , McGee sattled at his new desk , Tony told him .
"I think , we've got something ,"
"What ?" asked him .
"Agent West ..."
"Who's he ?"
"Norflok Office ," grinned Tony , thinking 'Gibbs and me would have never asked this question ,"
"Do you know him ?"
"Yes , we were at FLECT together ... By the way , Agent West has sent me this report about a murder ... a strange murder at Hilton Norfolk Airport Hotel ,"
"Strange ?!" asked McGee , raising his eyebrows .
"Yes , very unusual ," said Tony and then he explained him , what he'd already told Ziva .
When Tony stopped talking , his boss didn't say anything . He just kept on reading the report . Tony and Ziva exchanged a serious glance .
After a very long moment , looking at his watch , Tony said ,"Maybe tomorrow , we should go there and ..."
"I know that , DiNozzo !" Tim stopped him , nervously ,"Go there and take Ziva with you !" .
"Now ?! McGee it's late and nothing will change 'till tomor ..." said Ziva . "It takes more than 3 and half hours to go there and ... it's been a very long day ... for all of us !" , she thought .
"I don't care , David ! Go !" the new boss stopped her , very nervously .Then he stood up and went to men's room . He didn't want that they saw his discomfort .

While Tony was drinving to Norfolk , Ziva said ,"Tony ... ehm ... don't take offen ..."
"Ziva , please , do not say a word ... I just hope that Gibbs came back asap ," said Tony , staring the way in front of him .
"Me too ," whispered her .

§ Hilton Norfolk Airpot Hotel .
It was about 0815 p.m. , when Tony and Ziva arrived at Hilton Norfolk Airport Hotel .
The Hotel's Director escorted them to the party room . They checked all the room , but they didn't find anything important , then they check the old chest . It seemed a normal old Spanish chest and it seemed clean , but when they'd almost lost all hopes to find a good evidence , Tony saw some fabric's yarns on the chest's lock .
"Maybe ... I've got something ," he said , taking the yarns with tweezers and putting them into an evidence bag .
"Eagle eye , Tony !" smiled Ziva .
"Thanks . Now , we need to talk with the employees ," sighed Tony , tired .
"I'll talk with the Director and ... we could talk with the receptionist ... you caught her attention ," winked Ziva .
"Do 'ya think ?" asked Tony .
"Oh , come on ! You can't tell me that we didn't notice her drooling look ?!"
"No ," answered Tony , surprised .
"Have I to worry about you ?!" joked Ziva "You didn't see her winks ?! I can't believe it !" laughed her .
"Go to the Director's office , David !" ordered Tony , grinning .
"Okay ... and ... the receptionist is waiting for you !" she whispered , smiling . He rolled his eyes , smiling as well .

After some minutes they met near the Hotel's entrance ."I suppose that we can go back to DC , now ... it's about 1130 p.m. " he sighed , smiling and looking his watch .
"I'm driving ,"
"No , I'm driving ... you're dangerous when you're fresh and quite ... I can't even image , what you could do now , since you're tired and half asleep ,"
"You're tired and half asleep too ,"
"Yes , but I'm never dangerous behind a wheel ," he grinned , going to their car , with her .
"No .. you're just dangerous on a horse ," she winked , getting into the car .
"What you mean ?!" asked Tony , starting the engine and leaving the hotel's parking .
"Well ... I've heard that in Arizona , you've had some problems when you had to ride ," she grinned . He didn't replied immediately , as she would have thought . "Hey ... are you ok ?!" she asked , looking him . Tony wasn't listening to her . He seemed so far away from her . Ziva touched his arm ,"Tony ... what's going on ?" she asked concerned .
"Eh ? ... Oh ! Very funny , David !" he smiled , falsely happy .
"You weren't even listening to me ... I've asked you , if you're ok ?!"
"Yes , I'm ," another false smile .
"You don't seem fine ... did I say something wrong ?"
"No ... I'm just tired ... more tired than I tought , actually ," he yawmed ,"I hope that those yarns could tell us something good ... Tomorrow , I'll call West for some more details ," he added , trying to change the conversation's subject .
"Yes ," sighed Ziva . "What is happening to him ? What was he thinking about ? I've never seen that look in his eyes ... pain , grief and a deep sadness ... but why ?" she was thinking .

§ Back to DC .
They arrived at the Washington Navy Yard , at about 0300 a.m. They left the proof's bag at Evidence Garage and Tony left a note about that , in Abby's Lab . Then , finally , they went to their own places .

Ziva took a long relaxing bath , then she drank an hot lime-blossom tea and fell asleep quite immediately . She was so tired that she didn't even dream .

Tony took a long and hot shower , then he took the pills that he had to take , for the rest of his life , after the peunmonic plague and fell asleep alone , in his double bed . Sadly , it wasn't a quite night for him . He dreamt a lot .
He had nightmares ... turning and moaning , he whimpered ,"No ... please stay ... do not let me alone ... I'll be good , I swear ... mamma ... NO ! She is still here ... I should have run faster ... it's all my fault ... dad , please , forgive me ... forgive me , mummy , please ... mamma , stay ...".
Then another nightmare ,"I'm sorry ... piccola ... I can't ... do not go ... please , believe me ... I ... I need you ... NO !!!" , suddenly he woke up , panting and sweated . For a moment , he didn't understand where he was . He squitted his eyes and rubbed his face . He went to the bathroom and pulled some cold water on his face . He stared the man in the mirror in front of him and barely recognized himself . "You can't go on in this way ," he sighed to his image ,"Or you'll have a brake down ...". He dried his face and went to the kitchen to drink some water , thinking ,"I need help ... but , who could help me ?! A therapist ? .. I do not need a therapist ... I know damn well what I need ! ... I just need my perfect life back !!! C**p !" he slammed the fridge's door ,"Why I must always ruin and lose all the good things of my life ?! ... Why did accept ?! Why didn't I say no ?!... And ... and I can't make up anymore ... I've lost everything and it's just all my fault ... I need help ... definitely ," he sighed , watching the big old clock on the sitting-room's wall , "Great ! 0450 a.m. !" he said angrly .
Going back to sleep ? Impossible ! Going out for a run ? Maybe . "Maybe , the cold air will clear my mind ," he thought . So , he took his car , and after a little more than 5 minutes , he arrived at Georgetown Waterfront Park . Running along the Potomac River and seeing a Winter's bright sunrise , calmed him down a little .

TO BE CONTINUED ON THE NEXT CHAPTER ...